Golf ball target device

ABSTRACT

A golf ball target device of unitary construction includes a hub portion and a plurality of arms radiating outwardly from the hub portion. The hub portion and arms form a number of target pockets. At least one projection projects into each target pocket to impede movement of a golf ball within the target pocket.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a target device for use by a golfer whenpracticing his or her putting. The target device can also be employed asa game component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable target devices for golf balls are well known. Such devices canrange from the simple approach of tipping a glass on the floor and usingthe open end of the glass as a target to far more elaborate deviceswhich define a target opening simulating a golf course hole and whichincorporate a mechanism which will automatically eject a golf balltherefrom after a successful shot has been made.

Prior art golf ball target devices of the latter type conventionallyrequire that a golf ball roll up an uphill slope of the device leadingto the hole. This arrangement does not provide a true duplication orsimulation of a golf course hole which has an entrance or opening on thesame generally planar surface on which one normally putts. That is, aplayer must adjust his or her stroke to apply more power to the ball tomove it up the uphill slope than is the case where the target hole islevel with the surrounding putting surface. Furthermore, some golf balltarget devices are costly and relatively expensive.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a golf ball target device that ischaracterized by its relative simplicity and low cost. In addition, thetarget device defines a target opening which is located at the puttingsurface, not elevated above it. The golf ball target device is compactand readily portable.

The golf ball target device of the present invention is of unitaryconstruction and includes a hub portion for positioning on a supportsurface.

The target device includes at least one pair of arms, the arms of the atleast one pair of arms being attached to the hub portion at spacedlocations on the hub portion, projecting outwardly away from the hubportion and positionable over the support surface.

The arms of the at least one pair of arms have spaced distal ends. Thehub portion has an arcuate golf ball engagement surface defining arecess located between the arms of the at least one pair of arms.

The arms of the at least one pair of arms each have a curved arm surfaceforming a continuation of and extending from the arcuate golf ballengagement surface to form an open ended target pocket including therecess for receiving a golf ball rolling on the support surface.

At least one protrusion projects into the target pocket at a locationspaced from the open end of the target pocket for engagement by a golfball moving in the target pocket. The at least one protrusion is forimpeding movement of the golf ball and decreasing the likelihood of thegolf ball exiting the target pocket through the open end thereof.

Other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention willbecome apparent with reference to the following description andaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a golf ball target device constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front, elevation view of the golf ball target device;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the golf ball target device; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, except that the target device isshown in a position rotated 45 degrees as compared to the position ofFIG. 3.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, a golf ball target device constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention includes acentral or hub portion 10 for positioning on a support surface, such asa floor (not shown).

Four arms 12 of identical construction are integrally attached to hubportion 10. The arms are spaced from one another and adjacent arms 12 ofthe four spaced arms are disposed orthogonally with respect to oneanother. The shapes of the arms are identical.

The arms are attached to the hub portion at ninety degree increments,project outwardly away from the hub portion and are positioned over andon the floor or other support surface.

The hub portion 10 has four arcuate golf ball engagement surfaces 14defining four equi-spaced recesses 16. Each recess 16 is located betweenthe arms 12 of a pair of arms.

Each arm has a curved arm surface 18 forming a continuation of andextending from the arcuate golf ball engagement surface 14 to form anopen ended target pocket 20, which includes the recess, for receiving agolf ball rolling on the support surface.

The distal end of each arm 12 includes two spaced projections 26 and aninwardly curved end wall 28 disposed between the spaced projections.Each arm 12 becomes wider as it progresses outwardly and is at itswidest at the location of inwardly curved end wall 28. The projections26 each are parallel to an adjacent projection of an adjacent armwhereby the open ended entrance to each target pocket is essentiallydefined by two straight parallel arm wall segments.

Two protrusions 32 project into each target pocket at locations spacedfrom the open end thereof. These protrusions are for engagement by agolf ball moving in the target pocket on the support surface and impedemovement of the golf ball, decreasing the likelihood of the golf ballfollowing the curvature of the target pocket and exiting the targetpocket through the open end thereof.

The golf ball target device is preferably integrally formed of moldedplastic material having a uniform predetermined durometer hardness. Theprojections 26 are resilient and flexible and will flex if hit by a golfball to exert a spring-like action on the golf ball,“flicking” the golfball away from the target device in the event of a miss. Similarly, agolf ball hitting one of the curved end walls 28 will follow the curvethereof and be redirected away from the device. On the other hand, asstated above, when the golf ball is on target and enters a target pocket20, the protrusions 32 will prevent the ball from looping around theperiphery of the target pocket, making it less likely that the ball willexit the pocket.

A suitable plastic material for forming the golf ball target device isUrethane Casting Resin and a suitable durometer hardness is, forexample, within the range of from about 40 Shore Hardness to about 60Shore Hardness. It will be appreciated that the device may be made indifferent durometer hardnesses depending upon the type and nature of theaction one desires when putting a golf ball.

The device may simply be utilized as a target for golf ball puttingpractice; however, it is also possible to utilize the device whenplaying a game. For example, a number of players may compete to see whocan successfully put the most balls into a target pocket. If desired,one target pocket may be assigned to one particular player. Differentcolor golf balls may be assigned to the various players.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A golf ball target device of unitaryconstruction, said golf ball target device comprising, in combination: ahub portion for positioning on a support surface; and at least one pairof arms, said arms of said at least one pair of arms being attached tosaid hub portion at spaced locations on said hub portion, projectingoutwardly away from said hub portion and positionable over said supportsurface, said arms of said at least one pair of arms having spaceddistal ends, said hub portion having an arcuate golf ball engagementsurface defining a recess located between the arms of said at least onepair of arms, and the arms of said at least one pair of arms each havinga curved arm surface forming a continuation of and extending from thearcuate golf ball engagement surface to form an open ended target pocketincluding said recess for receiving a golf ball rolling on the supportsurface, the distal end of each arm of said at least one pair of armsincluding two spaced projections and an inwardly curved end walldisposed between said spaced projections.
 2. The golf ball target deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said two spaced projections are resilientand flexible.
 3. The golf ball target device according to claim 2wherein said two spaced projections are tapered and have two convergingprojection side walls, at least one of said side walls forming acontinuation of and extending from a curved arm surface.
 4. The golfball target device according to claim 1 including four spaced arms,adjacent arms of said four spaced arms being disposed orthogonally withrespect to one another and said four spaced arms cooperable with saidhub portion to define four spaced, open-ended target pockets.
 5. Thegolf ball target device according to claim 4 wherein adjacent targetpockets of said four spaced open-ended target pockets are equally spacedabout said hub portion.
 6. The golf ball target device according toclaim 5 wherein at least one protrusion projects into each of saidtarget pockets.
 7. The golf ball target device according to claim 1wherein each of said projections is substantially parallel to aprojection of an adjacent arm.
 8. The golf ball target device accordingto claim 1 wherein each arm has an increased width at the location ofsaid inwardly curved end wall.